In our continuing effort to punish
those who commit crimes with firearms in our
Commonwealth, Representative Canavan has filed on GOAL’s
behalf “An Act Regarding Breaking and Entering of a
Firearm Retailer, Wholesaler or Manufacturer”. Very
simply, this proposal would severely punish criminals
who break and enter into a firearm retailer, wholesaler
or manufacturer.

“There is only one reason why
someone would break and enter into one of these
businesses,” said Jim Wallace, Executive Director of
GOAL. “It is our hope that the severity of punishments
included in this proposal will send a clear message to
the criminal element. That message is simple, these
businesses represent an important part of our ability as
citizens to exercise our Second Amendment civil rights
and we will not tolerate any criminal attempt to
unlawfully obtain firearms. Such criminal acts not only
endanger the public safety, but inevitably endanger our
ability to exercise our civil rights as well.”

This bill is a clear representation
of GOAL’s effort to clearly separate the lawful
possession issues and the criminal enforcement needs.
Because this bill was drafted after the creation of the
Civil Rights and Public Safety Act (CRPS Act) found at
www.MassGunLawReform.com, GOAL will be asking the
legislature to add the Breaking and Entering bill to the
CRPS Act.

We urge all of our members to
contact the legislators and ask them to sign on to
“An Act Regarding Breaking and Entering of a Firearm
Retailer, Wholesaler or Manufacturer” as a
cosponsor. Click here to find out who your local
representative is
www.wheredoivotema.com

An Act Regarding Breaking and Entering of a
Firearm Retailer, Wholesaler or Manufacturer

Chapter 269 of the Massachusetts
General Laws shall be amended by inserting the following
section:

Section 10F. Breaking and
Entering of a Firearm Retailer, Wholesaler or
Manufacturer

(A)Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime breaks
and enters any building in which a firearm retailer,
wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business shall be
subject to a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than
$10,000 or by imprisonment for not less than five years
nor more than ten years or by both such fine and
imprisonment.

(B)Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime breaks
and enters any building in which a firearm retailer,
wholesaler or manufacturer conducts business with the
intent to unlawfully obtain a firearm, rifle, shotgun,
machinegun or ammunition shall be subject to a fine of
not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 or by
imprisonment for not less than five years nor more than
ten years or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(C)Whoever unlawfully obtains a firearm, rifle,
shotgun, machinegun or ammunition by means of breaking
and entering, in the nighttime or the daytime, any
building in which a firearm retailer, wholesaler or
manufacturer conducts business and who unlawfully
distributes said firearm, rifle, shotgun, machinegun or
ammunition shall be subject to a fine of not less than
$10,000 or by imprisonment for not less than ten years
nor more than twenty years or by both such fine and
imprisonment.

We need to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals by reforming our gun laws to make them clear, comprehensive and effective. They should be tough on criminals and easy to enforce.

Our gun laws should do more to respect the individual right of every citizen of the United States to keep and bear arms.

We Believe We Can Do Both

GOAL would urge all of our members to send a quick note of thanks to all of the co-sponsors of this bill.